Ikoli, late admiral, was ‘penciled down as next naval chief’
Teikumo Ikoli, fleet commander of the Western Naval Command, Nigerian Navy, was in the running to emerge chief of naval staff, according to some officers.
Ikoli was found dead in his Lagos home, on Wednesday.
Quoting authoritative sources at the command, NAN said he might have been assassinated, “as he had no cause to kill himself”.
“Ikoli has been penciled down by the president as the next chief of naval staff; he recently earned a special promotion to his present rank from commodore,” the agency quoted a source as saying.
“He was on the panel probing arms deal which also affects the Armed Forces, including the Navy.
“Ikoli was a disciplined, gentle, straightforward and honest man, who had no regard for protocol. It is nothing but a murder case.”
The source also said that because of his performance as the commander, NNS Beecroft, he was loved by all officers and the junior ones.
He said: “Ikoli transformed the place by introducing smart ID cards and increasing special duty allowance from N4, 000 to N12, 000.
“Everybody is aware that he was an introvert, but he made sure that things worked properly and he had respect for all and zero tolerance for corruption.
“He really complimented President Buhari on his anti-corruption war and I think that was why he was appointed to serve on the arms deal probe panel.
“His elevation as the next chief of naval staff would have been announced if not for the president’s trip to London for medical checkup.”
Another officer, who said he worked with him, also told NAN that the late Ikoli was an easy going man who did not believe in bothering people.
“At the close of work, he usually allows his aides to go home and stay with their families. In most cases, he will be the one to open the gate of his residence for visitors using a remote control.
“The officer would not have killed himself; it is pure case of assassination. There is a mystery surrounding his death; for instance, the two ambulances they brought to take him to the mortuary refused to move.
“It was when they brought his service car and transferred the body into it that they were able to take his corpse to the morgue,” he said
This story is too ordinary, by the working of the navy Rear Admiral Ikoli could not have been Chief of Naval Staff at least for now. He would have been able to achieve that in by 2018. Reasons are that he was a very young Admiral who got his two star general rank only in 2016. No doubt he worked perfectly as a strict person and no nonsense officer, the officer couldn’t have been Chief of Naval Staff that early. Also, it is the Almighty God that crown the Chief of Naval Staff. For instance, in 2015, Rear Admiral Ayankpele was being pointed as the next Chief, but surprising Admiral Ibas who was not even in the picture was chosen
“@the two ambulances they brought to take him to the mortuary refused to move” HAHAHA, THE MAN IS AN ORACLE. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN HIM TO THE MORTUARY IMMEDIATELY, ITS POSSIBLE HE MAY RISE AGAIN.
Nigerian Military personnel never stop to amuse me. He was incorruptible, disciplined and a member of the panel probing arms deal. But his children live and study abroad – how on planet could he afford to pay those tuition fees with his salary – if he’s clean? perhaps he owns a snake farm like his side-kick the Army Chief (Burantai)